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sociology: theories and advanced concepts - Coggle Diagram
sociology: theories and advanced concepts
values in sociology
value freedom
durkheim
a social researcher must remain objective
researching social facts using scientific methodology
positivists
a researcher's values must never enter their research
value relevance
weber
researchers can be subjective in selecting methodology and choosing an issue to research
researchers must be objective when collecting and analysing their data
difficult to completely remove values from research
gouldner
sociologists can use research to further their career
select a socially pertinent topic to study
value laden
becker
use social research to take the role of the underdog
gain understanding into the social issue from the perspective of those affected
values cannot be removed from the process of social research
a researcher uses their values to choose a topic and conduct the research
Plummer
a sociologist cannot separate their values
drawn to topics that are important to them
functionalism
key sociologists
durkheim
value consensus
developed organic analogy
parsons
built upon organic analogy
functional pre-requisites
key ideas
organic analogy
society mirrors a living organism
societies evolve
societies have needs which must be met
social institutions function to allow society to function as a whole
consensus perspective that believes society functions for the benefit of all members
adopts a structural, macro perspective that examines society as a whole
value consensus is essential for maintaining social solidarity and preventing anomie
evaluation
+interlinking nature of social institutions
+importance of value consensus
-rose tinted viewpoint
-metanarrative
-some social institutions are functional for some, but dysfuntional for others
research is not based upon evidence
marxism
key sociologists
marx
the working class are unaware of their own exploitation
when they gain class consciousness, they will overthrow the capitalist system
gramsci
humanistic marxist
working class will develop own hegemony instead of overthrowing capitalism
althusser
social institutions transmit ruling class ideology
capitalist forces
political
ideological
economic
evaluation
+acknowledges conflict
-overemphasises class inequalities
-marx is an economic determinist
-the class overthrow has not happened
key ideas
structural, macro perspective that analyses the exploitation experienced under the capitalist system
conflict perspective that acknowledges bourgeousie and proletariat inequality
the economic base determines how the superstructure transmits ruling class ideology
the bourgeousie own the means and relations of production, which allows them to exploit the proletariat who have to work to earn a wage
social action theories
key ideas
micro perspective
analyses small scale interactions
attempts to understand meanings behind interactions
key sociologists
becker
labelling theory
people assign a label to actions, which is internalised
mead
people use symbols to communicate
the interpretation of these symbols aids communication
weber
types of social action
value rational
instrumentally rational
affective
traditional
verstehen
cooley
looking glass self
labels are internalised, which reflects the actions back
goffman
dramaturgical model
communication resembles actors on a stage
evaluate
-ignores structural factors that may influence behaviour
-where does the power to label come from?
-metanarrative
-assumes all labels are internalised - homogenous outlook
postmodernism
the new right
key ideas
the government should play a minimal role
avoid a nanny state
free market economics
welfare policies have created a dependency culture, with perverse incentives which encourage people not to work
believe in conservativism and traditional values
political perspective that considers the influence of social policy in society, and the role of the economy
key sociologist
Murray
perverse incentives
dependency culture
feckless fathers
evaluate
-victim blaming perspective
-outdated
-metanarrative
-homogenous assumptions
examples of social policy influence
1988 education reform act
back to basics programme
marketisation policies
abolition of retirement age
cuts to universal credit and welfare benefits
feminisms